INFORMAL LETTERS

Informal letters are sent to people you know well (e.g. friends, relatives, etc) about your recent news, personal problems, information you need, etc. they are written in an informal style with a chatty, personal tone.

An informal letter should consist of:

1. an informal greeting (Dear Ken/Aunt Joan/etc);

2. an introduction in which you write your opening remarks (i.e. asking about your friend's health, etc) and mention your reason for writing

• opening remarks may include:

1. questions/wishes about recent events, the person's health, etc

2. a thank you to the person for their last letter, comments about their news

3. an apology for a delay in writing/replying

4. the reason why are you writing

e.g. Hi! How are you? I thought I'd write and let you know that… ;
Hi how's everything going? I've just heard that you passed all your exams. Congratulations!

3. a main body in which you write the main subject(s) of the letter in detail, starting a new paragraph for each topic;

4. a conclusion in which you write your closing remarks

• closing remarks may include:

1. the reason why you must end the letter

2. greetings to the person's family/friends

3. wishes, a promise (e.g. to write again soon), an invitation, etc

4. a request to the person to reply soon

5. the reason why are you writing

e.g. That's all my news for now. Write back soon… ;

Well, I'd better go and do some work! Once again, well done!. Write soon. Please write back and let me know what you've been up to since I heard from you last, or drop me a line sometime …

1. an informal ending (e.g. Lots of love/Best wishes/etc + your first name).

Useful expressions

I'm writing to see how you're getting on in your new flat

The reason I'm writing is to ask you if …

Hello - how are you? I hope you're feeling better

Give your sister a big hug from me.

= big hug - duży uścisk

What are you up to this summer

= what are you up to - zamierzasz coś robić?

You'd never believe how well I've been getting on at school

= get on - dawać sobie radę, być w dobrych stosunkach z …

Give my best wishes to your parents

Well, that's all my news. I'd better end now, because …

Please write soon and tell me all your news.

I'll write as soon as I can and let you know about…

Useful expressions for making suggestions




• I think I/you/we should …

• Perhaps I/you/we could …

• What do you think about + …ing …?

• What about +…ing …?

• How do you feel about + …ing …?

• Why don't I/you/we …

• Would you like me/us to…?

• Would you like to…?






ASKING FOR ADVICE




To ask for advice, you can use phrases such as:

Do you think I should …?, Should I …?, What do you think I should do? Do you have any idea about …?, I'd like to know what you think about …, Can you think of anything that …?, I was wondering if you …, What would you advise me to…? etc.

GIVING ADVICE




An informal letter giving advice should offer sympathy and encouragement =(zachęta.poparcie), as well as specific advice with reasons. Each piece of advice is written in a separate paragraph.

• Opening remarks - I was sorry to hear that …, Cheer up/Don't worry too much. Don't let it get you down. I'm only too glad to help.

• Giving advice - If I were you/in your position, I'd/ I wouldn't…,
  You should/shouldn't …, It would(n't)/might be a good idea (for you) to …
  (I think) the best thing would be (for you) to …
  Why don't you…? Have you thought of/about …(+ ing)?
  Another good idea is to …

• Result - This will/would mean that …, Then/That way …, If you do this, you would … so that you
  

• Closing remarks - I hope that this/my advice helps. I/Let's hope that things get better/that everything turns out all right. Let me know what happens.

FORMAL LETTERS

Formal letters are normally sent to people in an official position or people you don't know well (e.g. Director of studies, personnel manager, etc). They are written in a formal style with a polite, impersonal (nieosobistym) tone.

• You can write a formal letter to apply for a job/course, make a complaint, give/request official information, etc.

• A formal letter should consist of :

1. a formal greeting (e.g. Dear Sir/Madam - when you don't know the person's name ⇒ Yours faithfully;
   Dear Ms Green - when you know the person's name⇒ Yours sincerely);

2. an introduction in which your opening remarks and mention your reason (s) for writing e.g. I am writing to apply for position of …)

3. a main body in which you write about the main subject(s) of the letter in detail, starting a new paragraph for each topic;

4. a conclusion in which you write your closing remarks (e.g. I look forward to hearing you as soon as possible … ; )

5. a formal ending (Yours faithfully - when you do not know the person's name; Yours sincerely - when you know the person's name; + your full name).

LETTERS OF APPLICATION

When you write a letter applying for a job or a course, you should include the following information:

A) in the opening remarks/reason(s) for writing

• the name of the job/course, where and when you saw it advertised.

e.g. I am writing to apply for the position of manager advertised in yesterday's Herald;

With reference to your advertisement in Thursday's edition of the Daily Star,
I am interested in applying for the position of…;

B) in the main body paragraphs (paras 2-3-4)

• Age, present job and/or studies (e.g. I am a nineteen-year-old university student.)

• Qualifications (e.g. I have a BE in French, I completed my certificate in …, speak English and French )

• Experience (e.g. I have been working as a waiter for the last two years, have worked as a …, .)

• Skills and personal qualities that are suitable for the job/course (e.g. I am a good and careful driver. I consider myself to be mature and responsible, or to be punctual, hard-working and fair, energetic and sociable, good organiser.)

C) in the closing remarks

• Any other important information (i.e. when you are available for interview, where and when you can be contacted, references you can send, a remark that you hope your application will be considered, etc)

e.g. I will be available for interview in September, or I will be available for interview

any weekday morning, or I may be contacted at the above addres, or by telephone on 825 647 733;
I enclose references from my last two employers or my present employer;
I look forward to hearing from you; or I look forward to receiving a replay in due course.

Mrs - zamężna [misyz] Ms - nieznany stan cywilny [myz]

YOU USUALLY USE:

The present simple to describe skills/personal qualities

e.g. I am a patient and reliable person.

The past simple to talk about past experiences

e.g. I left school in 1994. I worked for General Motors for four years.

The present perfect to talk about recent work/studies

e.g. I have been working for LTYU for two years.

I have recently finished secondary school.

LETTERS OF COMPLAINT

In a formal letter making a complaint, you may use a mild tone, for complaints about minor problems, or a strong tone, for complains about more serious matters, especially when you are extremely upset or annoyed. However, the language you use should never be rude or insulting.

• In the opening remarks, you should state your complaints, including details of what has happened and where/when the incident took place.

e.g.(Mild) I am writing in connection with …/to complain about … the terrible

behaviour/attitude/rudeness of …,
I am writing to draw your attention to … which …
I am writing to express my dissatisfaction …
I am writing to complain about the quality of an appliance (urządzenie)
I recently purchased (zakupine) from your company

(Strong) I wish to bring to your attention a problem which arose due to your

staff/inefficiency …,

I am writing to inform you that I was absolutely horrified by the rudeness of your shop assistant,
I am writing to express my strong dissatisfaction at …
I wish to express my dissatisfaction/unhappiness with the product/treatment I received from … on …

I am writing to inform

• In the main body paragraphs, you present each of the specific points you are complaining about. You start a new paragraph for each point and justify these points by giving examples/reasons.

e.g. Although you advertise “top quality”, I felt that the product I purchased was well

below the standard I expected.

• In the closing remarks, you should explain what you expect to happen (e.g. to be given a refund/replacement/apology/etc).

e.g.(Mild) I hope you will replace …

I feel/believe that I am entitled to a replacement/refund …
I hope that this matter can be resolved/dealt with promptly
I must insist on a full refund…

I would appreciate it if the faulty appliance could either be replaced or
repaired as soon as possible.
Thank you in advance (z gory dziękuję).

(Strong) I insist on/I demand a full refund/an immediate replacement/etc

or I shall be forced to take legal action/the matter further.
I hope that I will not be forced to take further action.

I demand an immediate replacement or a full refund, or I shall be forced to take the matter further




the fact …


2

5




---